Fornication - An Unscriptural Term

Much like "hell" the word "fornication" was made up by the Catholic church as yet another means to help them control the populists of Europe. The definition wasn't all that clear many years ago, so the church would use this term as it saw fit. Even today the definition can get a bit fuzzy...

Merriam-Webster
consensual sexual intercourse between two persons not married to each other

The Bible Encyclopedia
“The Greek word for ‘fornication’ (porneia) could include any sexual sin committed after the betrothal contract. …In Biblical usage, ‘fornication’ can mean any sexual congress outside monogamous marriage. It thus includes not only premarital sex, but also adultery, homosexual acts, incest, remarriage after un-Biblical divorce, and sexual acts with animals, all of which are explicitly forbidden in the law as given through Moses (Leviticus 20:10-21). Christ expanded the prohibition against adultery to include even sexual lusting (Matthew 5:28).” (Dr. Henry M. Morris)
http://www.christiananswers.net/dictionary/fornication.html

Dictionary.com
Idolatry.

The Free Dictionary
adultery, infidelity, unfaithfulness, extra-marital congress or relations or sex, living in sin, extra-curricular sex (informal), pre-marital congress or relations or sex Fornication is a crime in some American states.

Can you see some of the contradictions here?

But the real confusion lies in the practical use of the word. Many people feel it describes a certain type of sex. For example, some believe "fornication" means oral, or **** sex. Some think it means sex with animals. Some feel it involves what we call "toys" or ropes. Some think it is about dominance or submission.

It seems it all depends on who you talk to.

Today the Catholic church uses the word to help with their lists of immorality. Often times this word will be added to a list that the Catholic church wants to make look horrible. In many cases, if we are to believe that "fornication" simply means "consensual sexual intercourse between two persons not married to each other," the term is redundant.

AV Ga 5:19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are [these]; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,

If we are to believe the bible it seems that the words "fornication" and "adultery" are two different and unique terms. Not the same thing at all.

So what does the word "fornication" really mean?

Much like the term "hell" "fornication" is used to substitute a different word from the Scriptures. Just as "hell" is used to substitute 4 different words, so is "fornication used to substitute 4 different words.

These are...

porne? That means prostitute (Revelation 19:2 uses porne)

porneia? is Prostitution (1 Cornithians 7:2 uses porneia)

porneuo? is committing prostitution (1 Cornithians 6:18 uses porneia)

pornos? that is a male prostitute, which might be known as a Gigolo today (1 Corinthians 6:9 uses pornos)

I list these as examples only.


The word "fornication" is used in the KJV 36 times, 4 times in the OT and 32 times in the NT. I would like to concentrate on the NT use of this word.

Matthew 5:32
Matthew 19:9
John 8:41
Acts 15:20
Acts 21:25
Romans 1:29
1Corinthians 5:1 (2)
1Corinthians 6:13
1Corinthians 6:18 (2)
1Corinthians 7:2
1Corinthians 10:8
2Corinthians 12:21
Galatians 5:19
Ephesians 5:3
Colossians 3:5
1Thessalonians 4:3
Jude 1:7
Revelation 2:14
Revelation 2:20
Revelation 2:21
Revelation 9:21
Revelation 14:8
Revelation 17:2 (2)
Revelation 17:4
Revelation 18:3 (2)
Revelation 18:9
Revelation 19:2

Prostitution is a business transaction, where money is exchanged for sexual services. This practice (called the oldest profession) was so popular in Rome that there was a street named after it. Prostitution in Ancient Rome was legal and licensed.

Prostitution was big business in Rome. So why would it be so strange that Paul was addressing this widespread problem?

By restoring the word "Prostitution" to the Scriptures and eliminating the word "Fornication" we can see that the church has very little to say about mankind's sexual activities.

Adultery is defined as a married person having sex outside of his/her marriage.
Virginity is also defined in the OT.
But there is really nothing that says two people who are in love cannot have sex.

Unless, of course, you are willing to say that every woman who has ever given herself to a man is a Prostitute.

Are you?

How many million generations of proto-humans were having sex without marriage ?

It was all sex without marriage until only a few thousand years ago, and humanity was not struck by lightning or turned to ashes or salt pillars. We all bred like rabbits willy nilly regardless of any beliefs in higher beings.

If you want it put a ring on it ?

No - If you want it put a condom on it.

There is no place for government, church, or anyone not involved, in the bedroom.

How many disgusting acts has 'god' looked upon and let it slide: genocide, war, paedophilia, environmental destruction, and extinctions.

If you need a contract before doing the deed, there is not enough passion, it is only a business deal. "I'll trade you this for that".

No different to a furry cheque book.

Good post, good points, imo.

it is not a sin it is just immoral though. i prefer no sex before marriage.

No

Marriage wasn't even thought of until Christ. Adam and Eve were not married God just made Eve for Adam.

Actually, marriage is talked about in the OT, written thousands of years before Jesus came.

Eve is called Adam's wife...

CLV Gen 3:8 Then they heard the sound of Yahweh Elohim walking about in the garden in the windy part of the day, and the human hid himself with his wife from the face of Yahweh Elohim among the trees of the garden.

There is no "hell." Not in the Scriptures, anyway.

If it is, then I have sinned. Before I married I had relations. The bible often speaks of love. All of us are love. Each of us is the product of a couple making love. For five years, I have been a man that lost his spouse to cancer. I'd risk making love again. One likes to take a test drive prior to buying a car. If one seeks marriage, one should see if the couple is compatible.

Yes it is if your are a Christian. The problem is society and TV have made it normal. The divorce rates are high.

True, but there is a lake of fire.

I am fascinated by this idea of "hell." some say no and some say yes. we know many words describing hell mean the grave. but one thing is for certain whether people agree or not, whether they claim it is just a story or it's true, and that is the parable of the rich man and Lazarus.

before I finish my thought, may I point out that this story was told from God in the flesh Himself [Yeshua]. and according to Yeshua, before his death-burial-resurrection, the souls of both the saved and damned were held in a location that both the suffering and not suffering could see one another. one side was called Abraham's Bosom and the other side was called a place of torment.

in this story of Lazarus and rich man, the LORD GOD explained the rich man begged Lazarus to tip his finger in water to cool him off. this would indicate the rich man place of existence was hot and of torture. he also begged Abraham to tell his other family members to believe in God so they would not end up where he was at.

this seems like a clear picture that hell therefore is a real place and it is hot and full of torment...especially since God in the flesh told us so.

but there are other indications hell is more than just the grave with what we read about Yeshua. like when He [Yeshua] cast out demons and they begged Him not to send them to the abyss. this abyss is interesting because Peter writes about it as well where demons are being held right now. and these demons will be released during the tribulation. these demons committed sins God had instructed no angel to commit like having children with human women.

but if you honestly read the bible, you will understand hell is a real place outside of the grave. even David in Psalms writes about, Isaiah, and many others.

so in conclusion, according to the bible, and even more so according to God in the flesh who died for us, instructed us through parables that hell was REAL!!

Yeshua even stated gnashing of teeth and the worm dieth not. now, if you are a dead corpse in the grave. how do you gnash your teeth constantly when you are dead? you only gnash your teeth in a literal hell!!

the correct term is WEEPING and GNASHING of TEETH!!

so those physical bodies in every graveyard are doing this? hardly not, THEY ARE DEAD. they are brain dead and no longer function. they cannot weep nor gnash their teeth in their grave.

but yet, Yeshua stated this very term on several occasions [not just once but to different people]. so if they cannot weep or gnash their teeth in their grave, where at they doing this at?

the literal hell where Satan was cast down to [the pit]. and if you read the Bible there are levels of that pit [hell] and the abyss is the lowest level. it is so bad that demons cast out by Yeshua BEGGED HIM to not send them there!! why would the demons beg to not be sent to a place that according to some DOES NOT EXIST?

I totally believe in 2 hells. 1 being the grave. 2 being where Satan is located the pit that includes the abyss.

and Revelation states both will be cast into the Lake of Fire [Death = Grave], [hell = pit where Satan was cast down to]...

and yes, I was off topic. and back on topic, a follower of Yeshua should not have pre-marital sex, one night stands, sex of any kind outside the marriage!!

It's easy to get caught up in the symbolism of the Book of Revelation.

Our insistence on a "hell" must be based on our inability to accept God's love and forgiveness.

But I will start another topic so as not to disturb this one.

Analyze the opposite: is marriage without sex a sin ?

Well it's not good, so it must be some shade of bad, is it then a sin ?
I certainly wouldn't be happy with it.

So is sexless marriage better or worse than marriageless sex ?

Couples couple to make babies and have pleasure.
Sexless marriage makes no babies and lacks pleasure, so not good.

Marriageless sex often makes babies and gives pleasure, (even if only temporary), so it is a clear winner.

Don't let fiction stories, incantations, irrelevant script on parchment, and thought police stop you from having pleasure !

Yes. As long as the pleasure is ethical, I agree with you.

If you say that there is 20 version of the qur'an.. hmm than you know it from the one who dont know about it.. i think its the same one with bible or taurah.. if you know from the wrong one.. than the information that you know. is .. wrong.. it just my opinion bro..

actually the first Book in the bible and the second chapter speaks about marriage...

Genesis 2:24 CJB
The Complete Jewish Bible

24 This is why a man is to leave his father and mother and stick with his wife, and they are to be one flesh.

this ONE FLESH has always been classified as marriage.

in fact, Matthew speaks about the same thing:


Matthew 19:5 CJB
The Complete Jewish Bible

5 and that he said, `For this reason a man should leave his father and mother and be united with his wife, and the two are to become one flesh'.

there is that ONE FLESH again!!

The answer is in you.....